Players Bruce Arena Needs on the United States Men’s National Team
Sebastian Lletget (Attacking Midfielder/Wing/Forward)
World Soccer Source contends that Sebastian Lletget is the most important player that Bruce Arena can bring in. Why? Because Lletget is an attacking midfielder and a playmaker, and the United States has recently found an excellent new center forward in Bobby Wood, plus the United States already has two excellent central midfielders in Michael Bradley and Darlington Nagbe or Kellyn Acosta. Lletget offers the missing elements to the national team: creativity and playmaking. The United States has creativity in Christian Pulisic, but he needs another gifted attacking player to combine with. Based on what he’s shown in MLS, Lletget is better than Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen, and Sacha Kljestan. More so than just a playmaker to play the final pass, Lletget is a midfielder who can orchestrate the team’s passing and possession. The United States isn’t just lacking playmaking in the final third; it’s also lacking quality passing and possession farther away from the goal.
Kellyn Acosta (Center Midfielder)
The United States has used Kellyn Acosta before, but it was as an outside back. What Acosta really brings to the United States is another defensive or central midfielder to play with Bradley. Acosta is an excellent all-around player who brings technical skill, defending, lots of running, and speed. Acosta has even proven to be a threat on goal. For a national team that often gets beat in the midfield, Acosta offers everything you could want from a central midfielder, and he’s part of the younger generation of American players who offer more technical ability that many of the players in the previous generation. Whether Bradley needs a substitute or a partner, Acosta is that midfielder. It doesn’t hurt that he offers plenty of positional versatility.
Darlington Nagbe (Center Midfielder/Attacking Midfieder)
Darlington Nagbe brings skill to the national team just like Lletget, and that makes him valuable. Nagbe is a creative and skillful player who is effective all over the field due to his tireless running and speed. Whether Bruce Arena wants him to play as a Number 8 midfielder or an attacking midfielder, there has to be a roster spot for Nagbe who many people consider one of the very best players in the American player pool. If Nagbe partners with Bradley, then a central midfield combination where Bradley plays as the defensive midfielder or Number 6 and Nagbe plays as the box-to-box midfielder or Number 8 would be an improvement for the United States.
Kelyn Rowe (Attacking Midfielder/Wing)
The United States needs Kelyn Rowe because of his technical ability, creativity, and quickness. Rowe can play centrally or wide as an attacking midfielder or wing, and the United States would be wise to call up a player with his qualities. Christian Pulisic is arguably already better than everyone on the team, and he needs other technical and creative attacking midfielders and wings to play with. Rowe would offer Bruce Arena a playmaker or wing option, and he helps improve the United States’ biggest problem: low technical ability.
Rubio Rubin (Center Forward)
The United States is always looking for center forwards, and Rubio Rubin is a player to back up Bobby Wood or play as his strike partner. Rubin is considered by many to be the best young American player besides Christian Pulisic, and Rubin is an aggressive and skillful center forward like Wood. The United States has always needed center forwards who can stretch and beat opposing defenses, and this is how Rubin plays. When Wood and Rubin first played for the United States, it was evident that these two center forwards were more dangerous and direct than Jozy Altidore, who never has attacked like these two. Rubin is worthy of a call-up just to be Wood’s substitute, but Rubin is also ready to start right now against any opponent because he has the mentality and ability to start and perform well. Rubin already performed well against Colombia, so what other kind of proof is really needed?
Andrew Farrell (Center Back/Right Back)
Andrew Farrell is a center back or right back, and he’s the type of center back that the United States has only seen in Eddie Pope and Geoff Cameron. He has the technical ability to keep possession in the back and pass the ball out of danger instead of just clearing the ball or hitting long balls. As a defender, Farrell is an excellent ball-winner who is faster than most attackers, and he has fast feet unlike other center backs the United States has used. Defenders like Omar Gonzalez are prone to being thrown off balance and left for dead by opposing attackers, and Farrell has the athleticism and playing ability to stay in front of, catch up to, and dispossess fast and skillful attackers. Whether it by storming up and down the sideline to attack and defend or leading the defense as a center back, Farrell is a higher caliber of defender than the United States would be wise to select and field.
Eric Lichaj (Right Back/Left Back)
Eric Lichaj is better defensively than DeAndre Yedlin, and Lichaj is a veteran of the English Premier League and Championship. Lichaj also has a track record of playing well for the United States at both right back and left back. In addition to continuing to use Yedlin, Arena can select Lichaj to bolster or improve his defense. Lichaj is useful to the United States because he is a proven right back, but he is also a proven left back, which is a very weak position for the United States. Klinsmann’s refusal to use Lichaj was odd, but maybe his affinity for Timothy Chandler always put Lichaj lower down on Klinsmann’s depth chart at right back.
Jorge Villafaña and Robbie Rogers (Left Backs)
Many of the United States’ rosters under Jürgen Klinsmann simply had no players who played left back for their club teams. All things considered right now, Jorge Villafaña and Robbie Rogers are two left backs who have played or are playing well for their clubs right now.